Ariana Grande Clarifies ‘Step Back’ From Spotlight in 4-Minute Speech Mid-Concert: ‘Can We Get a Little Real?’

Ariana Grande has spoken out about her upcoming break from her professional career after a representative said that she will step out of the public eye following the conclusion of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour in early September.

via: Page Six

“Can we get a little real tonight?” the singer asked attendees at her Chicago show, per a video circulating on X.

The 33-year-old went on to say during the four-minute speech, which she had written out on her phone, that “the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing” and had been “blown out of proportion” online.

“It is something that I had decided to plan,” the actress added, claiming she made her “thoughtful” and “empowering” decision “quietly, a long time ago.”

She went on to deny speculation that online “negativity is ruining things for” her.

“No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me … as this love that we share,” Grande insisted, dubbing the tour “one of the most healing, beautiful, correct and special experiences” she’s ever had.

“That felt good,” the “Wicked” star concluded before resuming her performance at United Center. “I wish that words were enough to articulate how much I love you.”

Over the weekend, Grande’s rep announced that the Grammy winner will be “taking a step back from visibility” when her “Eternal Sunshine” tour wraps.

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” the spokesperson explained, referencing online chatter regarding Grande’s weight after the release of her “Petal” music video.

“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her,” the statement continued. “She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

However, a source clarified to Page Six that Grande is bowing out because “she’s been overworked.”

“She’s been in a really good place on tour. She loves doing it and it’s been positive,” the second source said, emphasizing it was the “nonstop public scrutiny,” more than her schedule, that contributed to her decision to pull back.

The insider added that Grande’s choice to exit the West End production of “Sunday in the Park with George” — which was set to open next summer — was “well thought out.”

A second insider reiterated that Grande is taking a break because she was hurt by the “nonstop public scrutiny” more than a heavy work schedule.

The “Thank U, Next” hitmaker had been set to star in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George” opposite her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey next summer, but has now pulled out.

The musical’s producers acknowledged her withdrawal via social media on Sunday.

“Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George,’” read a statement shared by the musical’s official X account. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.”

A third source said the Grammy winner, 33, simply reached a point where she knew she needed to prioritize herself.

“She’s been working nonstop for a long time and finally got to a point where she realized she needed to give herself permission to step back for a while,” the insider told Page Six. “She’ll be spending time with her family and friends, with loved ones, and just enjoying some well-deserved downtime.”

“She’s been nonstop and it’s taking a toll. She’s never handled the public scrutiny well and constant chatter about her weight [doesn’t help],” the insider told us Monday.

Since fans noticed her weight loss in 2023, the former Nickelodeon star has been forced to hit back at the chatter multiple times.

In her song “Yes, And?” off her 2024 album “Eternal Sunshine,” she sings, “My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise / Don’t comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours, and mine is mine.”

At the time, she also insisted that her weight loss was due to eating a vegan diet and cutting out alcohol.

Her decision to “step back” comes on the heels of her split from ex-boyfriend Ethan Slater after three years of dating. Last month, Page Six confirmed she has rekindled her relationship with Ricky Alvarez.